Songs for Ukraine XII

Ukrainian Group, Kalush Orchestra, Wins Eurovision Final

“You can’t take my willpower from me, as I got it from her,” and “I’ll always find my way home, even if the roads are destroyed.” - Kalush Orchestra

We were in the midst of our weekly “Songs for Ukraine” live concert when Ukrainian listeners told us Kalush Orchestra had broken all the rules by singing their song, Stefania, and demanding that Ukraine be saved.

“It’s against the rule, and they can be disqualified,” typed my Ukrainian friend. “But they did it anyway.”

Immediately after they sang and at the following press conference, they talked about the horrors being experienced by Ukrainians trapped in the Azovstal plant in Mariupol. I couldn't watch the video (not allowed in the USA?!!) but there were many folks at the concert who were from Ukraine and other European countries who told us what was happening.

Instead of being disqualified, Kaluah Orchestra was declared the winner by public vote. I awoke to this headline in the New York Times, “Ukraine Wins Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final 2022.”

The coverage by the Times was predictably factual and carried none of the raw emotion - shock, horror, disbelief, and profound grief - that I have been seeing, feeling, and experiencing daily in my interviews with Ukrainian musicians. Nor did it mention the Azovstal plant in Mariupol. Why? Why are they talking about past winners, the odds bookies were laying on whether or not Kalush Orchestra would win, and Iryna Shafinska’s make-up while ignoring Oleh Psiuk’s impassioned plea that the world save those still trapped in the tunnels beneath the Azovstal plant in Mariupol?

If you have no idea what either of those words mean, you need to. Here is a short clip from NPR’s daily podcast, “State of Ukraine,” and an article in the Ukrainian Times.

Civilians and soldiers remain trapped in a Mariupol steel plant: https://www.npr.org/2022/05/02/1096031908/civilians-and-soldiers-remain-trapped-in-a-mariupol-steel-plant

Click the image below to read the article.

Our live concert went on (see recordings below) with lots of encouragement for our Ukrainian listeners. If you’d like to know more about “Songs for Ukraine,” visit: https://www.braidedlives.com/songs-for-ukraine

We are actively collecting songs for our Music Bridge to Ukraine if you’d like to add your voice, visit: https://www.braidedlives.com/songs4ukraine-chain

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